European Go Congress 1971

The 15th European Go Congress

21st August - 4th September 1971

European Congress held in Bristol

The 15th European Congress was held in Badock Hall,
Bristol University, from 21st August to 4th September.
This was the first time the European Congress had been
held in Britain since the London Congress in 1966, and
we were pleased to have not only the strongest entry ever
for a European Congress, but also to have the honour
of entertaining the Lord Mayor of Bristol, who opened
the Congress. Of the 41 competitors, 31 were of 1st kyu
and higher strength, although most of the strongest
German players could not come.

The main event, the European Individual Championship, was won,
as expected, by Zoran Mutabzija of Yugoslavia, the 1967 champion.
He lost only to Henk de Vries, of Holland, who came second.
Another Dutch player, Max Rebattu, was third. The
'Master Tournament' for 2-dan players was won very
impressively by Robert Rehm, also from Holland. The
team trophy is awarded on the basis of the results of the
best three players from each country, and these three players
made up the winning Dutch team.

We have to look at the lower tournaments to see a strong
challenge from the home team. Tony Cooper lost the
'Master Candidates' - 1 dan and 1 kyu - tournament on a
tie-break. This close competition was won by Barisic of Yugoslavia,
but also in with a chance near the end were Kiehl from Munich
and Jim Bates from London. Francis Roads won 'Zone 1' - 2 kyu to 5 kyu -
only losing one game, and Geoff Briggs won 'Zone 2' - 7 and 8 kyu.

The handicap tournament proved by far the most successful ever held at a
European Congress, as more than 120 games were played. The first prize,
for the most wins, went to John Allen of Edinburgh, with 12 out of 17.
The second and third prizes were awarded on percentage results, and
went to van Zanten (10/11) and Ivan Young (9/12) respectively.

Other entertainments included two lightning tournaments, discussion of professional
games, and a showing of the Expo '70 Go Film, made by the Nihon Kiin, and
brought to Europe by Stuart Dowsey.